Picker for looms



Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES parent" cri ics Joseph F. Foelir,

Garden City, N. Y.

Application January 13, 1937, Serial No. 120,387

4 Claims.

This invention relates to pickers for looms, particularly loop pickers such as are used largely in looms in cotton mills, and has for an object to provide a picker of an improved construction to eliminate or minimize stretch, which will prevent the picker from being knocked to one side when it comes in contact with the shuttle, and to keep the picker balanced or in proper position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view 1 the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of materials used as will be more clearly disclosed in the accompanying specification and attached drawing in which various arrangements are shown for securing these objects, it being however, understood I am not limited to the specific constructions shown but may use other constructions coming within the principles of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the construction of Fig. 1 showing a slight modification;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing another modification;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the construction of Fig. 3 showing a slight modification thereof;

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are perspective views similar to Fig. 1 showing different modifications thereof;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views similar to Fig. 3 showing different modifications thereof;

Fig. 11 is a perspective View showing another variation or modification;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing still another variation or modification;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the lower part of the outer or body member of any of the forms shown indicating the material of which it may be made;

Fig, 14 is an edge view thereof looking from the right of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a side view similar to Fig. 13 indicating another material;

Fig. 16 is a section of the construction of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a section of aportion of the outer or body member showing another construction; and

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of one form of a reenforcing member that may be employed.

It is very essential if best results are to be attained that the picker be of a construction which will give a perfectly balanced picker as otherwise it may interfere with the proper operation of the loom, causing undue wear or poor operation, and it is also important that it be constructed to minimize or eliminate stretch so that it will not work loose or out of position on the picker stick, and will retain its proper shape so that it will not be knocked to one side when it comes in contact with the shuttle, and that it be kept balanced and in proper position.

Common forms of pickers are made entirely of leather and as it is common in constructions of this material that it be overlapped at one side, it is practically impossible with these present constructions to make a perfectly balanced picker. I have found that by making the body or outer member including the loop of a material composed largely of fabric, cotton being preferred as it is easily available and cheaper than other materials generally available for such purposes, or such fabric combined with vulcanized rubber or a rubber composition, I can make this body member of uniform thickness throughout, carrying the side walls to the face of the picker without overlapping, or can make it in one continuous piece including both the sides and end walls. without overlapping and therefore can make a perfectly balanced picker. Furthermore, with this arrangement I can use a material for the body or loop member which is particularly adapted for this purpose and another material for the head or insert which receives the blow of the shuttle which may be better adapted for this purpose, and therefore can use materials which have been found to be the best for their particular functions in the picker.

In the form shown in, Fig. 1 the picker comprises a body 2!! including side walls 2t and end walls 22 and 23. It will be seen that in this form all these walls are formed in a continuous closed member and no overlapping of the walls is required at any point. The side walls particularly can be formed of uniform thickness and both of the same thickness giving a perfectly balanced picker. The side walls 2! and the end walls 22, 23 form the loop to receive the end of the picker stick, at the other side of which from the wall 22 are the inserts 2t forming the head of the picker to receive the blows from the shuttle. These members 2 1 as will be seen are flat members of rectangular cross section arranged side by side and placed between the side walls 2 t. Then these members and the body are secured together by suitable rivets 25 extending transversely through the side walls and the inserts or head members 2 whereby they are all rigidly secured together. These rivets may have enlarged heads or washers a to increase their bearing and holding effect on the material of the picker. It will be seen that in this construction the end wall 23 of the body passes over the outer edges of the inserts or head members 24 and therefore this wall 23 is bored or reamed as shown at 26 to the members 24 so that the blow of the end of the shuttle is taken directly by this head or members 24. However, as the body 20 is made in one continuous piece this bored or reamed opening does not materially or obje-ctionally affect the strength of the body member. This body member 2|) may be woven or braided continuously of a cotton fabric or it may be folded, twisted, or built up to the proper thickness, the fabric preferred being cotton, such for example that known as canvas or duck, or it may be made of rubber or composition containing rubber reenforced with this fabric such for example as a construction similar to the casings of automobile tires. The material should be sufficiently rigid to retain its shape and have the proper firmness. If preferred it can be made of a composition that is a combination of a cotton fabric such for example as cotton or duck in superimposed layers or thicknesses with a layer of vulcanized rubber between the layers of fabric. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 16, the layers of fabric being shown at 21 and the layers of vulcanized rubber at 28, or if preferred the vulcanized rubber composition can be distributed throughout the fabric, or the superimposed layers of fabric as indicated at 29 in Fig. 17 may be impregnated and filled throughout with a vulcanized rubber or rubber composition making a uniform molded structure.

For the inserts or head members 24 high quality leather is preferred or a hard rawhide as they have the desired resistance to withstand the blows of the shuttle and still have the desired cushioning effect for the shuttle. However, if hard rawhide is employed for the inserts or head members it is preferred to place a cushioning member 3|), such as a piece of leather, between the inner edges of the inserts or head members and the picker stick as shown in Fig. 2, it being understood that the end of the picker stick is inserted in the loop formed adjacent the end wall 22. This cushioning member may be employed between the head members and the picker stick with whatever material for the inserts or head members is used, but if these members 2d are of leather, as a rule no additional cushioning member is required. Hard rawhide, however, being more rigid and harder than the tanned leather is more apt to injure the picker stick and furthermore is not as yielding and therefore has less cushioning effect in itself than has the tanned leather. this cushioning member is also preferably employed where a reenforcing member is used, either of metal or hard rawhide, or any other reenforcing material which is harder than the leather.

The primary construction of Figs. 1 and 2 is carried throughout all the forms shown in Figs. 1 through 10 except that in the forms shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 the outer or body member includes the wall 23 extending over the outer edges of the inserts 24 or face of the head member. This wall 23 is omitted in Figs. 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10 and thus the outer edges of the inserts 24 or the face of the head is directly exposed on the front of the picker. It will, however, be seen that in all forms the side walls 2| of the body member extend to the outer face of the As will later be shown inserts or head 24. With this difference only the picker of Fig. 3 is of the same construction as the picker of Fig. 1 while the picker of Fig. 4 is the same as the picker of Fig. 2.

The picker of Fig. 5 is the same as the construction of Fig. 2 except that at the outer sides of the head composed of the inserts 24 and between these inserts and the side walls 2| are placed reenforcing members 3|. These are preferably more rigid than the material of the body member 2|] and that of the insert so as to stiffen up the general construction and make it less liable to be knocked out of shape by the blows of the shuttle and therefore make it less likely to be knocked sidewise on the picker stick, and it will retain its shape and balance much longer and give a much more satisfactory operation. These reenforcing members 3| are preferably of metal or hard rawhide depending somewhat on the materials which are used for the body member 20 and the head members 24. The hard rawhide is more yielding than the metal. If these members 24 are made of leather then the reenforcing members may be either metal or hard rawhide, but if the members 24 are of hard rawhide then the reenforcing members are preferably of metal. With this construction the cushioning member 30, preferably of good quality leather, would ordinarily be employed to protect the picker stick from injury by the reenforcing members 3| and also to assist in cushioning the blow from the shuttle. The rivets 25 pass through holes in the stiffening members as well as the side walls and the inserts 24 so that the whole construction is rigidly secured together.

The construction of Fig. 8 is the same as that of Fig. 5 except that the end wall 23 extending across the face of the head is omitted.

The form of Fig. 6 is the same as that of Fig. 5 except that the reenforcing plates 32, which may be of the same material as plates 3| and corre sponding thereto, are placed on the outer side of the side walls 2| instead of on the inner side as in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 9 the construction is the same as Fig. 8 except that the reenforcing plates 33 corresponding to plates 3| and 32 are placed on the outer side of the side walls 2| the same as in Fig. 6 instead of on the inner side as shown in Fig. 8.

In Fig. 7 the construction is the same as Fig. 5 except that the reenforcing side plates 34 corresponding to plates 3|, 32 and 33 are connected by cross wall 35. These three walls may be formed in one piece as shown in Fig. 18. When it is made of hard rawhide this material may be moistened first in which condition it may be formed to the shape indicated.

In Fig. 10 the reenforcing side plates 34 connected by the wall 35 are the same as in Fig. 7, and the construction is the same except that the top connecting wall 23 of the body is omitted. In other words this form of Fig. 10 is the same as that of Fig. 4 plus the reenforcing plates 34 and connecting wall 35.

In Fig. 11 a somewhat different construction is shown. In this picker the body is composed of double walls. In other words two complete bodies composed of side walls connected by end walls similar to the construction of Fig. 1 are placed one within the other and may be formed of the same material as the body member of Fig. 1. The inner body member comprises the side walls 36 and the connecting end walls 31 and 38, while the outer body member comprises the side walls 39 and connecting end walls 40 and 4|. Be-

tween these two walls may be placed reenforcing plates 42 corresponding to the reenforcing plates of the other forms and made of the same material, except that they extend throughout the full length of the body. The same inserts 24 forming the head are provided and the parts are all connected by the transverse rivets 25 the same as in the other forms.

In Fig. 12 is shown a form which may be made of the same material, such as the woven fabric or this in combination with the vulcanized rubber as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 11 and 13 to 1'7, but it is also so constructed that the outer body may be made of leather. This body is in one piece comprising side walls M and M connected by the transverse wall 45 forming the loop for the picker stick. Between these walls are one or more inserts 46 of leather or hard rawhide corresponding to the inserts 2 1, but in this case the side wall 43 is extended over the outer side of these inserts as indicated at 4i and then inwardly at the side of the inserts M3 to form another insert 48 to complete the head. The other side wall 44 is extended transversely across the top of the wall 41 as indicated at 49 and a scarfed end is folded over the outer upper end portion of the wall 6,3 as indicated at 50. Between the inserts and the side walls 43 and M are mounted reenforcing plates 5! and 52 of metal or hard rawhide corresponding to the reenforcing plates in the other forms and preferably connected at their lower edges by a cross wall 53 similar to the forms of Figs. 7, l0 and 18, although separated reenforcing plates may be used if preferred. In this form as the walls till overlap the walls 55 this side of the picker may be somewhat heavier than the opposite side and therefore to balance this the plate 52 on the opposite side may be somewhat wider than the plate 5 I.

In all of the forms shown the cushioning member 30 of leather or other suitable material at the inner edge of the inserts or head members and between these members and the picker stick may be used if desired as indicated, but ordinarily it is used only when the head members or inserts are of material sufliciently hard and rigid as to be likely to injure the picker stick, or are too rigid to give the desired cushioning effect for the blows of the shuttle. This cushioning member may be cemented to the inner edges of the inserts and the inner surfaces of the side members of the body of the picker, or in the forms of Figs. 7 to 10 and 12 to the side walls and the cross walls 35 or 53 of the reenforcement. They are also fastened to the head or inserts 24 by brads as indicated at 54 (Fig. 2) driven through the cushion member into the inserts. The heads of the brads would be driven in sufficiently deep that they would not injure the picker stick. These brads would effectively prevent the cushion from slipping out of position. Where the connected reenforcing members of Figs. '7, l0 and 18 are used the connecting member could be provided with openings 55 for the brads to pass.

It will be seen that in all the forms including the reenforcing plates, that is Figs. 5 to 12, in each form the plates are opposite to or in the plane of the inserts or head members 24 and 26 and therefore reenforce the head portion of the picker which receives the blows of the shuttle and thus assists in preventing the picker from being knocked out of shape and maintains the proper balance.

I also wish to point out the importance of my construction of picker in permitting the use of leather or hard rawhide for the inserts or head 2Q to receive the blows of the shuttle and the use of other materials, particularly the fabric or combination fabric and rubber as indicated. This secures the superior advantages of leather or hard rawhide for the inserts or head members,

and permits the use of a material better adapted for the body portion and one which can be perfectly balanced and will maintain its proper shape and this balance.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. A picker of the character described comprising an integrally formed body in one piece composed largely of fabric, said body including side walls extending to the face of the picker and a connecting end wall forming a loop for the picker stick, a head including a plurality of pieces of leather or hard rawhide placed side by side between and parallel to the side walls, rivets extending transversely through the side walls and said head pieces to secure them together, and a cushioning member located over and in contact with the inner edge of the head extending between the side walls and adapted to contact directly with the picker stick.

2. A picker of the character described comprising a body member including side walls and a connecting end wall forming a loop for a picker stick, a plurality of pieces of fibrous material placed side by side between the side walls to form a head, a reenforcing means comprising plates between said head members and the side walls and an integral member connecting said plates at the inner edges of the head members at the side toward the picker stick loop, and rivets extending transversely through the side members, the plates and the head members to secure them together.

3. A picker of the character described comprising a body member including side walls and a connecting end wall forming a loop for a picker stick, a plurality of pieces of fibrous material placed side by side between the side walls to form a head, a reenforcing means comprising plates between said head members and the side walls and an integral member connecting said plates at the inner edges of the head members, a cushioning member on the side of the connecting member next to the loop, and rivets extending transversely through the side members, the plates and the head members to secure them together.

4. A picker of the character described comprising an integrally formed body in one piece including side walls and a connecting end wall forming a loop for the picker stick, a plurality of pieces of fibrous material placed side by side between the side walls to form a head, reenforcing means comprising a substantially U- shaped member of relatively rigid material arranged with its side walls between said members and the side walls of the body and the connecting portion extending across the inner edges of the head members between these members and the picker stick, a cushioning member secured at the inner surface of this connecting portion of the reenforcing member to engage the picker stick, and rivets extending transversely through the side members of the body and the reenforcing memher and also the head members to secure them together.

JOSEPH F. FOEHIR. 

